I146;ll be damned

An SMS from indignant NGOs in response to Gujarat Chief Minister Narendra Modi8217;s fast on the Narmada issue has been making the rounds: 8216;8216;Is fasting ever used by such wrong persons for such a wrong cause?8217;8217;

An SMS from indignant NGOs in response to Gujarat Chief Minister Narendra Modi8217;s fast on the Narmada issue has been making the rounds: 8216;8216;Is fasting ever used by such wrong persons for such a wrong cause?8217;8217; Modi8217;s opponents believe that he represents the anti-thesis of all the values that the Mahatma held dear and are furious that he should adopt such Gandhian methods. A frail, ailing Medha Patkar in her crumpled sari and disheveled hair and a plump, prosperous-looking Modi, smartly turned out in designer kurtas expensive watches and pens, are a study in contrast. But surely no one has the exclusive prerogative to go on a hunger strike.

Actually, Modi is better equipped than most to undertake such a feat. He regularly fasts during the Navratras, when he does not even drink a sip of water in the daytime. For the last few years Modi has been projecting himself as the champion of development and the Central Government8217;s ham-handedness on the Narmada issue has afforded him an opportunity on a platter. Ironically, it is Maharashtra and Madhya Pradesh which will be the major beneficiaries from the increase in the dam height in terms of power supply; Gujarat has already received most of its benefits from the dam.

Modi telephoned Agriculture Minister Sharad Pawar to complain against Maharashtra Chief Minister Vilasrao Deshmukh for supporting a stay on further dam construction. Pawar agreed with Modi but expressed helplessness. Pawar knows he can only benefit from the Congress8217;s short-sightedness. Uddhav Thackeray also hopes to benefit from Deshmukh8217;s anti-dam position.

Catty explanation

The SPG has sought the help of the Delhi Zoo in ridding the Prime Minister8217;s house and garden at Race Course Road of stray cats. If the zoo authorities could really help out, it is surprising that Parliament has not approached them. Central Hall, the favourite meeting place for MPs, ex-MPs and parliamentary correspondents, is overrun with cats. The cats are so bold that they sometimes climb onto the benches and grab food from the tables.

The only time the Parliament staff succeeded in eliminating all cats was during then US president Bill Clinton8217;s speech in Central Hall to the MPs. This fuelled the weird rumour that the IB has implanted tiny microphones on cats to record confidential conversations, which is why the authorities are disinclined to rid Parliament of this menace.

Ten to one chance

Was Sonia Gandhi shown special favour in the early fixing of the date for the Rae Bareli by-election? It was done so speedily that she will not miss a single session of Parliament. Most have to wait several months before a by-election is ordered after a parliamentary seat falls vacant. According to Election Commission sources, Sonia benefited from the fact that 10 parliamentary seats became vacant last December when Parliament expelled MPs who were caught on camera accepting bribes. By-elections to these 10 constituencies were fixed for May, and the Rae Bareli constituency was merely clubbed with them. However, the Supreme Court subsequently stayed elections to the 10 constituencies, as some of the expelled MPs approached the courts. The May parliamentary by-poll will now be solely for Sonia8217;s constituency .

Bhanumati ka pitara

In the roughly 200 complaints received by the Election Commission staff seeking disqualification of legislators on the grounds that they are holding offices of profit, 38 MPs have been targeted. Twenty-nine are from the Lok Sabha and nine from the Rajya Sabha. The EC has separated the complaints into three categories8212;those where no case is made out, those which have provided inadequate information to the EC and those where notices are to be sent to the respondents.

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Meanwhile, the Law Ministry is struggling to draft a Bill for the forthcoming Parliament session which will be acceptable to the Opposition and bail out the affected MPs. Even if the Bill deems that immunity should be given with retrospective effect, it will be a ticklish issue to fix the cut-off date. Does a current Parliament have the right to legislate on actions concerning a previous Parliament? Can the MPs under threat of disqualification, including the Speaker, vote for such a Bill? Those who lost the last Lok Sabha elections could go to court seeking disqualification of MPs who held an office of profit during the campaign. The last Parliament was dissolved before its full term, so Parliament has no jurisdiction for this period. A veritable Pandora8217;s box, or as the Hindi phrase goes 8216;8216;Bhanumati ka pitara8217;8217;.

Worthy figure

How much is an IAS officer worth to the Government of India? While discussing a package for IAS officers who seek voluntary retirement, a member of the committee of secretaries suggested pegging the VRS for an officer who has put in 25 years of service at Rs 1 crore. The figure was considered too steep by the Personnel Department. The VRS being contemplated now envisages a package of Rs 50 lakh in long-term bonds plus other benefits.

Leak not fixed

The old custom of secretaries sitting in on Cabinet meetings while issues concerning their ministries were discussed has been done away with. The only officials now permitted are the Prime Minister8217;s Secretary and the Cabinet Secretary. Other secretaries sit in the antechamber and are summoned if specific queries have to be answered. Secretaries are presumably being excluded so that they cannot inform the world what goes on at Cabinet meetings. However, it is not through officials but ministers that most Cabinet stories leak out.